Thursday 23 February 2012

“OCHRE AND INK”, a documentary film

Ochre and Ink recently won the Special Jury Prize at FIFO (Film Festival Oceania) in Tahiti, after screening at the Guangzhou International Film Festival in China.

Ochre and Ink tells the extraordinary story of Chinese artist Zhou Xiaoping, and his inspiring and sometimes controversial 23 year collaboration with Aboriginal artists in outback Australia.

Trained as a traditional Chinese brush painter in Anhui Province, Xiaoping arrived in Australia in 1988 knowing almost nothing about the country. On a whim, he travelled to the heart of the outback, where he was surprised to see Aboriginal people for the first time. He became fascinated by their art and culture, and they welcomed him into their communities where the artists showed him their techniques of painting with ochre on bark.

Now Xiaoping is visiting the famous artist Johnny Bulunbulun and his family in Arnhem Land, working on paintings for a major exhibition to be held in Beijing, on the theme of the 300 year trade in Trepang (sea cucumber) from the Aboriginal people of northern Australia via Macassan traders to China. 

Johnny is keen to travel to China for the exhibition, but tragedy strikes before he can make the journey.

Ochre and Ink is a story about friendship and art that crosses boundaries and breaks the rules. 

Writer/Director/Producer: James Bradley
Producer: Rachel Clements
Director of Photography: Murray Lui
Sound Recordist: David Tranter
Editor: Karen Johnson
Sound Designer: Liam Egan
Composer: Caitlin Yeo

Copyright Nirvana Films and Yellow Mountain Films
Produced with assistance from Screen Australian, Screen Territory, Screen NSW
Broadcasters ABC1 and NITV

For more details, contact:
Rachel Clements
Brindle Films Pty Ltd
PO Box 5188
Alice Springs  NT  0870
Ph: 0414-484-472

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